What is the minimum credit rating needed to get hired?

[AlienGirl]

I know credit checks have become a standard part of job-applicant screening, even for jobs that don't involve cash-handling. As a recent college grad, I'd like some insight into what credit ranges are considered OK for a non-cash-handling position.

Or, to put it another way: Do i have a whelk's chance in a supernova of landing a job?

Any HR people able to help me here?

Tucker

[tjdee]

1. Go to smaller companies perhaps....

I don't work for a huge Walmarty/IBMy type company, and as far as I know I was never put through a credit check for my job. Or my last one either.

Which is great, because my credit would make Satan cry.

Maybe you just *think* it's a standard thing? Hoping some others can weigh in here...

[Deja Q]

2. Why credit check?

I one loses their job, they're toast. They may have built up credit but maybe they are trying to work to pay it off?! There ARE decent people on this shithole planet of ours. If I didn't get any of those stock jobs because they saw my rating at the time, I'm going to cry.

[dflprincess]

3. Before I was hired for my new job

I filled out all the standard forms and assumed a credit check was part of it because the application implied it was (the job does not involve handling money in anyway). I was a tad worried about it - even though my bills are paid, my credit card balances are awfully high.

Minnesota residents are allowed to request that they also get a copy of the check(s) run on them. When mine came back, all they had verified was my past employment and education. So, all I can advise you is not to sweat it - it could be they aren't even going to look at your credit.

Also, I don't think they run the any check until they're ready to make an offer. I filled out a lot of these forms for various jobs I applied for, but the only one I ever got back was for the job I was offered.

[Nikia]

4. I've never had a credit check for a job

I have had double digit number of jobs and have interviewed for at least twice that many job. It has never even been mentioned. Of course, I live and have lived in smaller metropolitain, micropolitain, and rurual areas, not major metro areas. That might make a difference.

[usedtobesick]

5. I have horrible credit and

still got my job with a security clearance. It's not the kiss of death to have a bad credit rating...

[demnan]

6. If you are applying for a job with some sort of

security clearance, the big thing they are looking for is, can you be bribed. That's why closeted homosexuals are less likely to get hired than your average joe job openly living together as a stable homosexual couple. I'm mostly talking about government clearance jobs here.

Be honest and just don't worry about it. There are so many people in grave debt today that if the companies wouldn't hire them, they may not make their construction quotas.

[AuntieM1957]

10. Off the topic but your cats are simply adorable n/t

[NawlinsNed]

7. A background check is not a credit check

Unless they explicitly say so. My credit is damned near toast due to two long term periods of unemployment and some frivilous spending because I just KNEW I was going to get a job as soon as I finished college. I just wait for the angry phone calls and the eventual threats to come in, but I'm trying not to let it get me down. Job market for my skillset sucks is all. Working to change that. I figure that, once I get the skillset I need to be valuable to a company, I can write my own ticket and just be very careful from now on. I have some corporations I want to form with some great ideas to pull in reasonable money, but I need that first break.

[AlienGirl]

8. I'm talking about actual credit checks

I had to go through one to get the job I'm in now (low-end retail position) and when I looked at jobs in the city's probation department, they also do a credit check. (I am a volunteer there, which requires only the criminal record check, not the credit check.)

From what I've read, credit checks have become standard for most job applicants.

Tucker

P.S. My credit score is really, REALLY bad--mostly medical debt and some bad checks written by my ex-husband on a joint account, combined with $45K in student loans. I will never be able to buy a house or a new car, and very few apartment complexes will rent to me.

[NawlinsNed]

9. Hmmm...

Yeah, I can see how that's an issue in retail. As soon as I get a new job, I'm going to attempt to save up a 6 month cushion of rent to offer to an apartment rental place. I figure I can just give them a money order, then save up the next 6 months worth of rent while working, and so on and so forth.

Of course, that would require having a job first. ;) Trying desperately to get my skills up to snuff so someone will take a sniff at me in the DFW area. A buddy of mine will rent his garage apartment to me for 400 a month including utilities, cable, cable internet. Guess I'm lucky that way, cuz with his luck with women, that place will be rentable for the next few years. :)